Back in July, Kanye West had a scuffle with a paparazzo. These are some of the photos from that scuffle. The whole incident went down like one of Alec Baldwin’s paparazzi incidents, only in my opinion, Kanye showed more restraint than Alec ever does. Basically, the paparazzi know how easy it is to get under Kanye’s skin, so as soon as he walked out of LAX, the paps started calling his name, asking him annoying questions, asking about Kim and North West. And Kanye lunged at one pap, grabbing at the guy’s camera and basically knocking the guy to his knees. And that was about it. Was it assault? Sure. Was it some huge deal? Not really. A few weeks after the incident, TMZ said the LAPD were investigating what went down but most people thought nothing would come of it, mostly because the LAPD was kind of assuming that Kanye would pay off this pap so he would drop the complaint. Well, I guess not:
Kanye West has been charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft for allegedly attacking a paparazzo at LAX on July 19 … TMZ has learned.
Kanye went off on the photog … who dared to speak with him as he left the airport. The photog went to the hospital and has filed a lawsuit. The photog hired Gloria Allred, who has said the attack left her client badly injured.
Just days before the attack Kanye issued multiple warnings to the paparazzi NOT to speak to him.
If convicted of both misdemeanors … Kanye faces a maximum of 1 year in jail.
He’ll be arraigned October 10th.
We attempted to reach Kanye’s lawyer, Blair Berk, but her assistant said she was unavailable “because it’s the highest holy day of the year for Jews” and she was at services.
Fun Fact: The L.A. City Attorney’s office nailed 2 men in the Kardashian fam in 1 day. They filed DUI charges against Lamar Odom this morning. Scott Disick … they’re watching you.
As I said, I think what Kanye did probably constitutes assault. But the photographer is pulling a LeAnn, right? I mean that he’s hyping his injuries, playing the victim a little too loudly in drama-queen fashion. And I’m surprised Gloria Allred is getting involved in this… I thought she only worked for mistresses, hookers and victims of sexual assault? Anyway, my guess is that this whole mess will just go away if Kanye writes this dude a check.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I have to say I am surprised by this. I really thought the whole thing was staged and that Kanye would happily pay the dude off for making him look like such a tough guy! Oh well since this happened in California and since Kanye West is a celebrity we can all be assured that nothing will happen to him other than keeping his name in the news.
Team Kanye all the way. He has clearly only been charged because he refused to bend to the extortion. Ofcourse he SHOULDNT get more than probation, he has no criminal past and the assault doesnt fall under GBH. Thats nothing to do with his celeb status, its just fair sentencing. What his refusal to negotiate with scum has done is limit the likelihood that some pap will harass him in the hopes of a pay day. Sure this pap scum could win a civil settlement but it wont be anywhere near the amount that he would have gotten as “hush money” if Kanye caved.
He’s been arrested twice, I believe in 2008, for altercations with paparazzi
He’s a thug. He needs to spend some time in the can with Bubba. Or Bubba will serve some time in his can. 😉
This is a waste of tax payers money. The charges are misdemeanors and Kanye will not do any time of course.
Obviously people should not go around assaulting others… but some of those paps could be charged every day of the week with verbal harassment. One doesn’t excuse the other and I don’t really have a point other than sometimes what goes around comes around.
I think the pap just wants a settlement. He’ll get it, I’m sure.
ITA. I don’t condone the use of violence but a lot of these paps are walking a fine line. I don’t know very many people who wouldn’t get angry if they were being followed by a pack of people taking pictures and yelling at them.
That said, I don’t think Kanye should have laid a finger on the guy…it might cost him $$
Well stated. The pap in this specific incident gives off a creepy ‘assault baiter’ vibe, as well. Look at the huge grin on his face as it was going down.
Hiring Gloria Allred is, in my book, as good as just admitting you did it for the attention, anyway. The woman is more of a publicist for washed-out losers who want to use the legal system to get their 15mins than an actual lawyer.
And I loathe Kanye West.
Kayne should settle so this goes away, it is after all a drop in a bucket with his money…. That said, ‘Ye you procreated with THE biggest vainest media whore of them all… This is gonna keep happening homey!
I have mixed feelings about this. Violence is never the answer to annoyance, but I’m sick of these paps who deliberately provoke people, then sue them for reacting. It’s a waste of police time, court time and taxpayer money. I don’t believe he was left with any permanent injury.
+1
This looks much less fierce than Alec Baldwin actually pinning the pap to a car. The scales of justice are very unbalanced, and I say this as someone who isn’t a fan of West.
The pap is smiling/laughing in the bottom picture. Doesn’t look too traumatized to me!
Cause he knows he just got a big payday!
Not condoning either side but asking questions is not a crime. This particular time that pap didn’t say anything wrong to have his arse handed to him.
Kanye shouldn’t have charged at the guy, the price u pay for being famous. U can’t have it both ways one minute u don’t mind them around and the next it’s get away from me
That pap was smiling the whole time clearly DELIGHTED to be the center of attention. He had a big dramatic diva moment, and while I have no time for Kanye West, this is ridiculous. If you listen to the conversation before it went down, the pap was clearly provoking the situation.
The pap is hearing the sound of “cha-ching!” and is thrilled. This right here–being in a headlock by Kanye–is the highlight of his pathetic life.
SMH
And yet Kanye can focus on the cameras snapping his image away while in a headlock. Sorry, don’t pay it. When you’re attacking someone who you feel is threatening you, your eyes don’t go wandering around to how much attention you’re getting for it.
I’m on the pap side here. No excuses for violence.
Maybe jail could straighten Knaye out in more ways than one.
Enough already! All these excuses for celebrities.
Assault is assault, no matter how someone is provoked.
And if you’re going to strike back physically then be prepared to deal with the legal consequences and take responsibility for the fact that you did violence to another.
Kanye’s such a ‘victim’. Of course never the thug.
This is ridiculous. I love how paps are allowed to invade a person’s personal space and private time, yell insults or whatever, and when their target has had enough and loses it, they are then allowed to press charges or sue.
But violence is alright, especially to paps since they have no human rights. Right?
Kanye is an ass… He loves creating & being in the middle of drama. He’s in and out of airports at least once a week with no problem? He pulls this crap when he wants or needs attention, plain & simple! No one finds this suspect on these ‘odd’ occasions? I do!
I don’t pay attention to Kanye but your right didn’t he have a album coming out at the time?
How funny that after he released his album he able to get to and from the airport with no problem and with out the paparizzi.
Does pounding a pap get you street cred?
YES!YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
God, send his ass to jail. Please, if you exist send this spoiled princess to jail.
I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a Kanye West style beat down than a paparazzi.